Investing in media literacy education
After a study from Stanford researchers evaluated students’ ability to assess information sources, the researchers described the results as “dismaying,” “bleak” and “[a] threat to democracy.” It wasn’t just young students either; many high school students couldn’t tell the difference between a real and a fake news source on Facebook.
And with states spending less on education and putting more of an emphasis on standardized tests, why should we hope this will get any better? In fact, it’s just the opposite. As technology advances there will be even more ways to manipulate information.
In 2016, Adobe announced the development of a new program called Voco. Designed for the masses, with this software a person could manipulate an individual’s vocal recordings — meaning you will not be able to trust your own ear. Video alterations of this magnitude are not the far away either.
Education not regulation.